D810 Build quality - Warning

[Akira]

Erik just tries to combine our Scandinavian Viking heritage with digital photography... 

I'm sure that Erik is "the" person to be the head of the Nikon Torture Test Committee (NTTC).   

[Hugh_3170]

I don't like the sound of the "Breaking News" when it has to do with the possible breaking of the plastic parts in key areas of our camera bodies.  LOL. 

[Akira]

I don't like the sound of the "Breaking News" when it has to do with the possible breaking of the plastic parts in key areas of our camera badies.  LOL. 

That is a cracker!

[Peter Connan]

You could hang the lens strap (not the camera strap)  around your neck and let the weight rest on the strap. Then make the adjustment to focus settings. Alternatively, you can put the lens on the ground so that the lens hood contacts the ground. Finally there is a custom setting which changes the way the button+dial controls work, allowing one to first press the button with one hand and without holding it down, rotate the dial, finally press the button again to end the setting.

If you have ever tried walking-and-stalking birds in African thornveld, you would appreciate that none of these methods are practical. Apart from the strap, they simply take too long. I wish I could re-program one of the right-hand-side buttons to take over this role.

As for the strap, it is in the way 90% of the time. Certainly this combination is too heavy to carry slung for extended periods. Thus you would have to sling and un-sling continuously, landing right back at the point where it just takes too long.

[Erik Lund]

Can you cite your references?

All it takes is to unscrew one screw, please see posts earlier,,, Bjørn just did that.

There is no risk at all - if you want to check your own camera


Akira et all - Thanks!

[Bjørn Rørslett]

To add to what Erik just stated: no risk as you only need to unscrew a little to make the screw threads visible, not remove the entire screw. I selected the mount screw on the lower left as it is less likely to be stressed. Use a suitable JIS driver. The threads are definitively 'coarse' indicative of a design for going into plastics not metal. Do remember not to overthighten the mount screw when you are finished with the inspection.

Anyone doubting my observation feel free to open a camera mount screw on your own D500. The outcome will be identical.

[simsurace]

Perhaps I have merely been lucky, but I often pick up my camera and lens (500 f4) merely by the camera grip. This is with the camera pointing down, and on "plastic" bodies (D7000, D610, D750). So far it has not caused me any problems.

I am not sure how else to alter the focus point selection when shooting hand-held with this lens?

the static load of 3kg is probably not enough to rip the screws out. Damage is much more likely to occur in dynamic situations where you are swinging the camera and lens around. An initial weakening due to dynamic load could then lead to a failure when the lens is hanging down, which would be catastrophic for the lens because it would fall down from considerable height, depending on the hardness of the ground. The camera is comparatively cheap.

This sort of fast shooting where it's apparently impossible to set the lens down to change settings or to use a monopod is inherently risky. You have to be prepared for some losses.

[Erik Lund]

If you unscrew all of the mount screws please note one is different than the rest!

[John Koerner]

I think there is a confusion between "plastic" and thermoplastic.

From what I have read what you're seeing is a carbon fiber composite, not unlike what is used on Formula 1 race cars and is stronger than steel.  Nikon has already said the D500 is stronger and more durable than the magnesium D300 with the new carbon fiber composite (on the D500).

[John Koerner]

What's interesting is that the D810 is such a great camera, DP Review just did a review on it, 2 weeks ago, and 2 years after it was first released:

DPReview of the D810

• "THE FINAL WORD
  The Nikon D810 is now nearly two years old, and yet its core technologies still challenge many cameras today, and Raw image quality is unmatched. We still haven't seen another full-frame camera capable of a true base ISO of 64, which gives the D810 medium format levels of clean, noise-free images with comparable dynamic range to boot."

and also ...

• So however frustrating the D810's faults are on occasion, they don't detract from the incredible performance of the camera as a total package. This review has taken a long time to complete, but it's testament to the camera that even after two years, the D810 remains a benchmark in many respects for other models in its class. As such, the D810 earns our coveted Gold award.

So while anyone can nitpick a camera to death (and I have my own ergonomic issues with the D810), it still is a truly great camera today, 2 years after it was released, which really puts into perspective what a game-changer the D810 was when it was first released.

Jack

[Ilkka Nissilä]

It's their first review of it, not second.

[John Geerts]

So while anyone can nitpick a camera to death (and I have my own ergonomic issues with the D810), it still is a truly great camera today, 2 years after it was released, which really puts into perspective what a game-changer the D810 was when it was first released.

Jack

I believe the D800 and especially the D800E were the real game changers.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I believe the D800 and especially the D800E were the real game changers.

From my perspective the D800(E) is kind of an alpha test prototype whereas the D810 is the final, working camera that one can rely on. But it depends on what one does with it.

[John Koerner]

I believe the D800 and especially the D800E were the real game changers.

I understand what you're saying, but I agree with what Ilkka Nissilä said.

According the the recent DPReview, "The D810 isn't a camera that you should necessarily sell your D800 or D800E for, but it's a better camera than both older models in almost every respect."

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I think there is a confusion between "plastic" and thermoplastic.

From what I have read what you're seeing is a carbon fiber composite, not unlike what is used on Formula 1 race cars and is stronger than steel.  Nikon has already said the D500 is stronger and more durable than the magnesium D300 with the new carbon fiber composite (on the D500).

What I know is that these newer camera are - literally - killed by impacts that older cameras survived. In such a context, the assertion "stronger than steel" becomes relatively meaningless.

My Df after not that extreme drop (50 cm): mount screws ripped out, mirrorbox destroyed.